Murderball:
When Men come
Home from War

Winner of the Documentary Audience Award and a
Special Jury Prize for Editing at the 2005 Sundance
Film Festival, this is a film about quadriplegics
who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style
wheelchairs - overcoming unimaginable obstacles to
compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
It's intense action, foul language and quad sex. To
this reviewer, the trailer left an impression that
it was a violent movie. And, while there are a few
intense scenes, I had actually hoped for more about
strategy and how the game is played, what goes on
on the rest of the court besides around the
goal.

As far as I could tell, none of the men playing
were war veterans. They received their injuries in
a car wreck, fist fight, gun shot, motorcycle race
or rogue bacteria. These men didn't volunteer for
their situation. They were forced to live life
sitting down.

So, in the end the team visits, I believe,
Walter Reed Hospital where men severally injured in
the Iraq War, were going through therapy. It gave
us a quick glimpse at just a few of the thousands
of men who have been injured in that War. It made
me wonder how many more men (and women) are going
to lose or send home severely damaged before we
admit our mistake and withdraw.

Support our Troops. Bring them home, alive,
now!

And, go see Murderball! [2005]
[R]

Other's reviews:

"Murderball tells the story of a group of
world-class athletes unlike any ever shown on
screen. In addition to smashing chairs, it will
smash every stereotype you ever had about the
disabled. It is a film about family, revenge,
honor, sex (yes, they can) and the triumph of love
over loss. But most of all, it is a film about
standing up, even after your spirit - and your
spine - has been crushed."Source: www.murderballmovie.com

"The United States Quad Rugby Association
(USQRA) has adopted a slogan that we feel captures
the main message of our players, the movie, and our
sport. 'Smashing stereotypes one hit at a time.'
The game is a tough, give-no-quarter game.
Murderball/Wheelchair Rugby changes lives. Any
misconceptions about quads and helplessness are
quickly eliminated as soon as someone sees the game
or tries to play Murderball/Quad Rugby. The players
transcend any pitiful images that one might
conjured up, and their day-to-day lives, their
successes and failures on and off the court are a
continuous example of smashing negative perceptions
and stereotypes. The movie Murderball is a
documented testament to the spirit of our players,
their humanity, and the intensity of our game."Source: quadrugby.com

"www.quadrugby.com
is the parent to this web site and we welcome you
to browse through and get many questions answered
there that we may not have addressed on this site.
Murderball.quadrugby.com was created to help
promote the movie and the sport of Murderball, and
moreover, to let people know about the USQRA and
how you can get involved, start a team, volunteer,
sponsor, or whatever we can provide to introduce
you to this fast paced game."Source: www.murderball.quadrugby.com/quadrugby.html

"Murderball is the result of a
two-and-a-half-year, all-access pass to locker
rooms, bedrooms, churches, and hospitals
masterfully put together by filmmakers Henry Alex
Rubin and Dana Shapiro. It's a film about
relearning everything you've ever known--from
brushing your teeth to driving a car to having sex.
It's a film about standing up, even after your
spirit--and your spine-have been crushed.
Trevor Groth"Source: festival.sundance.org/2005/filmguide/popup.aspx?film=6365